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Thursday, Mar 8, 2012 8:45 PM UTC

Senate Fails To Stall Boiler Pollution Reductions

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Topics: From the Wires,

WASHINGTON (AP) — An attempt to stall environmental curbs on toxic boiler emissions has failed in the Senate.

The bipartisan measure failed 52-46 Thursday, falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass. It would have forced the Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite a rule requiring boiler operators to install modern emissions controls. Boilers are the second-largest source of toxic mercury emissions after coal-fired power plants.

The vote showed the Democrat-controlled Senate’s resistance to limiting the EPA, even on a regulation that covers more than 200,000 large industrial boilers used in different industries. Seven Democrats and one independent sided with all but one Republican in favor of the stalling measure.

The EPA had sought more time to draft the rule, to replace one thrown out in 2007, but the court denied its request.

More Dina Cappiello.

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